Ryan Ellis: Predators prospect on tour with AHL Admirals
With his name engraved on the Memorial Cup two times over the last four years, Ryan Ellis is certainly familiar with playing top-calibre hockey in the month of May.
To date, the Nashville Predators prospect has tackled virtually every on-ice challenge thrown his way, whether it has been internationally with Team Canada or with his home squad, theWindsor Spitfires.
Just recently, the 20-year-old defenceman was honoured with the Red Tilson Trophy, an annual award given to the Ontario Hockey League’s most outstanding player. Ellis is just the fourth rearguard to take home the Tilson in its 67-year existence. He did so in fine fashion, posting 101 points and a plus-24 rating over 58 regular season tilts.
On April 29, the Spitfires’ all-time leading scorer among defencemen accepted a new trial when he suited up for his first professional hockey contest, as a Milwaukee Admiral.
During his stint with the American Hockey League’s feeder club to the Nashville Predators, the Freelton, Ontario native had a goal, an assist, two penalty minutes and nine shots in seven playoff games. The 11th-overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft netted his first pro tally in classic Ellis fashion – a wrister from the point.
A day after the milestone marker, Ellis told The Good Point that he was hoping he’d notch one sooner than later.
[php snippet=1]
“It was exciting,” said the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship gold medalist. “A couple games in, it’s about time I got one.”
Over the course of the Admirals’ Western Conference Semifinal series against the Houston Aeros – in which they eventually lost in seven games – Ellis began learning the pro hockey ropes. The 5’9″, 173-pounder noted that with less weight on his shoulders in the AHL, he was able to play smart hockey.
“As long as you’re doing your role, I think it’s easy for you because you can rely on the next guy to do theirs,” Ellis added.
“I think for the most part I’ve blended in.”
As a fourth-year veteran of major junior hockey, Ellis shined throughout the 2010-11 regular season. Most notably in shortened December, when Windsor’s power play quarterback scored three goals and 10 points over just four games. Then, in February he made it onto the score sheet a whopping 27 times over a 13-game span.
Even with all the accomplishments Ellis has racked up over the past half-decade, he insisted that the people around him haven’t treated him any differently. However, a few acquaintances have managed to come out of the woodwork.
“There are some people that you didn’t really talk to that start talking to you,” said Ellis of life back in Freelton – a rural southern Ontario community belonging to the metropolis of Hamilton.
“But, for the most part with my buddies, friends and family it’s the same. Obviously they ask a bit more but I think that’s more just curiosity and interest than anything else.”
When asked what career he would be pursuing if hockey wasn’t such a constant, Ellis offered a couple paths.
“I’m pretty good at arguing,” said the “AAA” Cambridge Hawks graduate with a laugh. “I’m pretty persistent and stubborn so I think I would probably be something like a lawyer or something in business.”
In the summer, Ellis said he plans on getting sufficient rest while also taking time to bulk up at the gym before training camp rolls around.
For the time being, Ellis has a trip back home to Canada to make – with hopes of returning to the state of Wisconsin again soon or, better yet, the main stage in Nashville Tennessee.
Check out a 2009 interview with Ryan Ellis in The Good Point‘s vault.
[php snippet=1]
